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Univ of FL Health anesthesiology team devises respirator mask made from existing hospital materials!
https://ufhealth.org/news/2020/uf-health-anesthesiology-team-devises-respirator-mask-made-existing-hospital-materialsThe innovative mask uses Halyard H600 two-ply spun polypropylene that cannot be penetrated by water, bacteria or particles. It blocks 99.9% of particulates, making the masks about 4% more effective at blocking particulate material than the N95 masks, according to Bruce Spiess, M.D., a professor of anesthesiology in the UF College of Medicine, who made that calculation based on the manufacturer’s specifications.
The Halyard material, which comes in 4-by-4-foot sheets, is typically discarded after surgical instrument trays are unwrapped and before coming into contact with patients. About 10 masks can be made from one sheet, and an estimated 500 to 1,000 sheets are likely available from UF Health hospitals every day, according to Spiess.
“This material is otherwise thrown out, so by taking it, cutting it and making masks out of it, we’ve repurposed it,” said Spiess, who came up with the idea.
UF Health hospital administrators and infection control experts have given him approval to proceed with the project. UF Health officials noted the masks, which are not certified as an N95 mask and are not intended to replace the N95, will give the health care system future capacity if there is a critical shortage of N95 masks.
The Halyard material, which comes in 4-by-4-foot sheets, is typically discarded after surgical instrument trays are unwrapped and before coming into contact with patients. About 10 masks can be made from one sheet, and an estimated 500 to 1,000 sheets are likely available from UF Health hospitals every day, according to Spiess.
“This material is otherwise thrown out, so by taking it, cutting it and making masks out of it, we’ve repurposed it,” said Spiess, who came up with the idea.
UF Health hospital administrators and infection control experts have given him approval to proceed with the project. UF Health officials noted the masks, which are not certified as an N95 mask and are not intended to replace the N95, will give the health care system future capacity if there is a critical shortage of N95 masks.
Innovation will lead us to a better future, in spite of a federal government trying to sabotage Americans at every opportunity.
4 replies
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It is sort of a catch 22 situation...
If you go out you are breaking quarantine.
You can't gather together in a room (with your sewing machine) to sew with others, because you are breaking social distancing.
Our innovative solutions are requiring that we ignore our common sense.
I used to live in G-ville. If I was still there I would be volunteering to come in with my sewing machine to whip out some masks. IF they would allow it...
Of course my cynical side assumes that SOME, once they got their hands on the material, would make the masks and sell (some of) them at top dollar.
Americans WILL make a buck, IF they can get away with it. I'm so proud.
What better example of "disaster capitalism"...
